MOST PEOPLE choose to send their children
to a school to be educated, but contrary to popular belief it
is both legal and reasonable to educate your child at home. If
you think that you may not be sufficiently resourceful to home-educate,
bear in mind that thousands of families in the UK, and millions
in the English-speaking world, are now practising home-education.
The majority of home educators have no
formal education, and, once started on the path of home education,
soon discover those aspects that vary with their initial expectations
or fears. Once you start "home" educating, you will
find that you can work on just what you want, when you want, that
it isn't expensive, that the children don't get lonely, that it
is possible for exams to be taken if you wish, and that it is
possible to educate children with special needs.
Some of the questions raised in the minds
of people considering home education are outlined below, or are
covered by the various EO
publications. Full answers are given
only to the questions contained in the first section, ("What?
Who? Why? And How?") of the Information booklet. Answers
to the remaining questions can be found in the leaflet itself,
available on the order
form.
Having said that, the best way of looking
at the questions is to talk to, or to read about the experiences
of, the people who have practised home-education before you -
both parents and children, (for example, as portrayed in "Early
Years," "Later Years", or as researched in Roland
Meighan's book, entitled, "Learning From Home-Based Education").
What is home-education (or home-based
education)?
Home-education is an alternative
to school; any family can choose this option for their children
- parents choose to keep primary responsibility for the education
of their children as is their right in law, instead of delegating
it to a school.
Who
learns at home?
A variety of people from all walks of life choose this way
of learning for their children. Home educators and their children
are a very diverse group.
Why do parents choose education
at home instead of school?
Some families make a carefully considered decision to home
educate long before their child reaches "school age."
There may be philosophical, religious or various other reasons
for their choice, ultimately they feel that in some way they can
offer a more suitable education for their children at home. It
is also a natural choice for parents who have enjoyed participating
in their child's early learning and see no reason to give up this
responsibility when the child reaches the age of five.
My
child goes to school. Can we change to home education?
Yes, you can. Parents decide
to withdraw their children from school in order to home-educate
for a variety of reasons. While many schools work hard with parents
to resolve problems, it cannot be denied that there are children
who encounter difficulties.
School does not suit everyone. Sometimes
children may find it hard to "fit in," some may have
difficulties with dyslexia (see the Dyslexia information leaflet),
or special needs; others endure severe and sustained bullying;
some children suffer anxiety attacks; and in extreme cases children
may become school phobic.
Children may find that school does not
suit their particular way of learning, so parents who become unhappy
with the education which is provided in schools may also decide
to home educate. Many parents may feel they are better able to
cater for their child's individual needs at home.
How
do children learn at home?
The method of learning which you choose to adopt is entirely
up to you and your child; you can use any approach that you consider
to be suitable. There are as many different ways of educating
as there are families.
The practice of most home educating families
tends to fall somewhere between the two following descriptions,
and however you choose to home-educate at first, you may find,
as many other people have found, that your methods will change
as you become more experienced and confident.
Many people believe that education can
be highly successful in many ways other than the approach which
is necessary in school - this view is certainly supported by research
which has investigated effective learning, and case law has established
that many different approaches can fulfil the requirements for
an effective education. (See the Home-ed Research and Choosing
Your Approach information leaflets.)
Some parents may wish to teach in a formal
manner, using a fixed timetable which keeps school hours and terms,
and a curriculum based on traditional school subjects, perhaps
the national curriculum. This appproach may be chosen when a child
is first withdrawn from school, where the family appreciates the
sense of stability offered by a familiar routine.
Also, if a return to school is likely in
the future, many families prefer to plan their education in a
similar way to school, and with reference to the national curriculum.
Sometimes a structured approach is the child's choice.
Other families take advantage of the fact
that home-educated children do not have to follow the national
curriculum or a timetable, allowing them to have far greater flexibility.
They may choose an autonomous approach, allowing the child to
determine the areas of study and to decide how, when and what
to learn, using individual interests and a natural curiosity as
a starting point. Children whose enthusiasm for learning has been
seriously affected by school problems often benefit from this
relaxed and child-centred approach.
Alongside this flexibility, there is usually
consistent attention paid to basic literacy, numeracy and social
skills. Subjects may be covered by, for example, a study of a
family tree, or by a project about the local area.
Some parents may wish to learn about various
educational philosophies and systems to help them decide on their
personal approach to home education. Often this will inspire a
family to combine a variety of different ideas into an eclectic,
unique system perfectly suited to that particular family. (See
the Home-ed & Steiner, "Home-ed and Montessori",
"Further Reading" information leaflets. and "Early
Years" and "Learning All the Time.")
There is no "correct" educational
system which suits all children and all families, as children
are individuals who learn in different ways and at varying speeds,
and families have different lifestyles from one another. It is
vital for parents and children to choose the kind of education
which is right for them, and it is also important to be flexible
and adaptable as the child's needs change.
How
can I teach my child what I do not know myself?
You do not need to 'know everything' - a more important skill
these days, with the ever increasing volume of facts which changes
and soon becomes out of date, is learning how to learn, how to
think, how to find information and where to look. The whole family
is likely to become more resourceful, use more iniative; often
you will learn alongside each other, enjoying each other's curiosity
and the thrill of discovery.
We live in an 'information-rich' society,
and there is a vast amount of educational information to buy,
or for free - libraries, television, museums and historic buildings
are available to all - all you need is to investigate what is
around and seize every opportunity to collect 'information.'
In every local community there will be
enthusiasts in many hobbies or professions who are usually more
than willing to share their expertise; sometimes friends or neighbours
my happily offer special knowledge and resources; and there are
always evening classes, private tutors, correspondence courses,
educational books, materials and specialist equipment, on-line
resources, etc. if you need to look further afield.
How
much does education at home cost?
There is no financial assistance for home educators, so inevitably
some expense will be incurred. However, home educators do not
have to buy school uniforms, pay bus fares to and from school,
or the other incidental expenses connected with school. Home education
can cost as much - or as little - as you are prepared to spend.
Many resources are available in a family
home. For example, every family has a readily available source
of equipment in the kitchen for measuring, weighing, and simple
science experiments. Woodwork and other tools are often available
in the home. (See "Early Years" and "Later Years.")
Regular use of the library means you do
not have to buy lots of books. There are various schemes which
may help home educators, so ask at your local library about topic
loans and special tickets which allow additional books, and any
other resources they can offer.
Some families like to use work/textbooks,
which for younger children are not usually costly. They can often
inspire you and can be easily supplemented with your own ideas.
Textbooks may be expensive for older children working toward GCSE,
but one good book may last for one or two years. Some people pass
on, share, or swap materials and books with other families.
Social and educational visits involve some
expense, but many local EO groups can arrange group discounts
for trips to places of interest. Clubs such as Brownies, Cubs,
Woodcraft Folk etc. are popular with home educators and schoolchildren
alike, so you may have this expense anyway, and there will be
a number of national or local clubs. (See the EO Useful Organisations
Leaflet.
How
do I know that home education is right for my child?
Only you and your family can make this decision, but it can
be very helpful to talk to other families with experience of home
education who may share the same problems and concerns.
Membership
of Education Otherwise gives you
the opportunity to meet other home-educating members, as well
as offering a range of information and ideas to enable you to
make an informed choice based on the individual circumstances
of your family.
Only you and your family can make this
decision, but it can be very helpful to talk to other families
with experience of home education who may share the same problems
and concerns.
Is
it legal to teach children at home?
Yes. The law says you must see that your child is educated,
but you can choose whether to delegate this duty to a school or
carry it out yourself. (section 7 of the 1996 Education Act, what
was Education Act 1944, section 36 for England and Wales, and
Education (Scotland) Act 1980 Section 30)
It is valuable to be well acquainted
with the legal aspects and know your rights and duties; ("School
is Not Compulsory," (SINC), published by EO, deals in detail
with many issues and has an extensive section on the legal aspects
of home education.
Other
questions covered...
- Do I have to be a teacher?
- Will we have to follow the National
Curriculum?
- Will we need a timetable, or a special
room or facilities?
- So we can provide any kind of education
we believe is most appropriate?
- My child has special educational needs.
Will I be allowed to home educate?
- Do I need permission to home educate?
- What if I want to take my child out
of school?
- What contact will we have with the LEA?
- What arrangements will be made for LEA
contact?
- I've heard of people being taken to
court because the authorities do not think the education they
are providing is good enough.
Is this true?
- Will my child be able to go back to
school later?
- What is 'flexi-schooling'?
Questions
covered within EO's publications are:
- What is socialisation?
- Do children need school 'socialisation'?
- Surely children need school to learn
how to work in a group,
and to prepare them for coping in later life?
- So, a home educated child can learn
to interact with other people?
- Where do children who are educated at
home make their friends?
- Will my child spend enought time with
other children?
- What if there are no other home educating
families in my area?
- What about the parents' social life?
- Bullying in school?
- What is bullying?
- Can I get help for a child at school?
- My child is still bullied. What can
I do?
- But some people say, "If your child
can't cope with bullying,
he/she should be at a special or another school."
- Some people say, "It's natural,
character-forming, it can't be helped...
...she asks for it... the child must learn to mix more..."
- Can home education help a child who
is bullied at school?
School "phobia" or school anxiety,
often leading to school refusal, is increasing for a number of
reasons. The commonest of these is bullying which can be either
physical or emotional in its nature; other reasons include learning
difficulties such as dyslexia or special needs.
(For further information, see the School
Anxiety information leaflet. Also"Troubled Children, A Fresh
Look At School Phobia," and "The Abuse of Care and Custody
Orders," and "Understanding School Phobia" by Patricia
Knox, available
from EO.)
"MY CHILD
was very unhappy at school. We tried everything, even changed
him to a different school, but nothing worked. In the end,
he became quite ill, and was unable to face going to school
at all. After he came out of school, he regained his self-confidence,
made lots of friends, and started enjoying life again. Home
education saved our lives."
"HOME
SCHOOLING has healed many children driven to despair and
severe illness by the social pressures found increasingly
in the school institution. It has returned the quality of
life to those who are a bit different or who cannot conform
to current forms of classroom teaching and expectations. Home
education can be a life-saver."
"BOTH
MY CHILDREN are more relaxed and happier now. They are
no longer afraid to question something they don't understand
or want to know more about. Both children are getting along
better with each other and with the people around them. When
they have their chosen friends to the house they enjoy the
time much more. They are finally learning and accepting that
emotional and intellectual growth doesn't have to be painful."
"FOR
US the knowledge of home education came in the nick of
time. Just days before a case conference to decide our son's
future, a friend passed on a woman's magazine which contained
an article about EO. I phoned for details immediately and
discovered our legal rights."
Can
a child with SEN be educated at home?
Yes. Section 7 of the 1996 Education Act (what was Section
36 of the 1944 Education Act) applies to all children including
those with special educational needs. The law relating to SEN
in Part III of the Educational Act 1993. (See the EO Special
Educational Needs information leaflet)
Other
questions covered...
- Can a child with a "statement"
of SEN be educated at home?
- What rights
do we have under the law of SEN?
- Do I need
any special training?
- Can home education really help my child
with SEN?
There are a number of ways to take various
courses, GCSE and A level Examinations and gain other qualifications
if required. Studying for them at home can be an advantage -
it is more relaxed, and they can be spread out over several
years. It may not be necessary to take them at all, since there
are other options, even for those considering higher education;
for example GNVQs, going straight to A level without GCSEs,
taking access courses to Universities, or choosing the Open
University.
(Further details and addresses are contained
in the information leaflets, Courses and Qualifications and
"Open School.")
Other areas addressed in the EO information
booklet are:
- Colleges of Further Education - ...
- Adult
Education Classes - ...
- Self-study
- ...
- Correspondence Courses - ...
Postscript
An increasing number of families are choosing
home-education for their children as this option becomes more
widely known. Each time there is publicity, the volume of enquiries
increases, more families are able to choose home-education either
before their children reach school-age, or they can help their
children out of the school system where they are having difficulties,
and the Education Otherwise network grows.
Increasingly we welcome members who may
not themselves home educate, but who support the principle of
home-education, and wish to help us promote widespread knowledge
about this option - perhaps you have family or friends who would
join in supporting our work.
Membership subscriptions, donations, and
publication sales, we are always grateful to receive further donations,
orders for further information and publications, offers of help,
and of course, we look forward to having your family membership
for years to come. Introductory leaflets, membership forms, publications
leaflets etc., can be ordered on the publications order form,
or from the address below:
Education
Otherwise
(Publications
Request)
PO
Box 7420
London
N9
9SG
